A night to remember: Davis etches her name in Emmy history

“In my mind, there’s a line. Green fields, lovely flowers, White women with their arms stretched out. [But] I can’t seem to get there no how. I can’t seem to get over that line.” This quote was a product of Mrs. Harriet Tubman.” The statement was recited by Viola Davis on what could be the best evening of her life. Davis gave an award winning speech in return for not only her first Emmy nomination, but for becoming the first African American woman to win the award for Lead actress in a Drama series. The award was won for her hit television show, How to Get Away with Murder.
“The only thing that separates women of Color, is opportunity.” Viola Davis was one of five siblings born on her grandparent’s plantation in St. Matthews, South Carolina. A few months into Davis’ life, her family uprooted and established in Central Falls, Rhode Island. Given her background, Davis was given the opportunity to follow her dreams and attend Julliard School located on the upper Westside of Manhattan New York. She attended the private institution from the year 1989 until her completion in 1993. Davis married Julius Tennon in 2003. In 2008, Davis was in a play on Broadway called Doubt co-starring the legendary Meryl Streep. Davis won her second Tony award in 2010 for Fences. She earned the title, “The second African American woman to win the award.” She and her husband decided to adopt a newborn baby in October of 2011 named Genesis to complete their family of five. Davis was named in the “100 most influential people in 2012,” by Time Magazine. For her most recent accomplishment, Viola Davis won an Emmy in 2015 for her leading role in How to Get Away with Murder.
When accepting her award, she offered her audience a tear jerking speech that paid homage to the writers, producers, and her fellow Black actresses. She thanked the many people who have “redefined what it means to be beautiful, sexy, to be a leading woman, and to be Black.” A few mentionable names included Shonda Rimes, Kerry Washington, Megan Good, Taraji P. Henson, Halle Berry, Nicole Bahari, and Gabrielle Union. From a Black woman’s perspective, her speech evoked much emotional joy. Black women in the crowd felt her emotional appeal simply after she quoted a pioneer of Color, Mrs. Harriet Tubman. Davis was in shock when her name was called to accept her award. As she spoke, natural women were moved. She wore her natural hair to the Emmys, which was alone an remarkable statement for women of color. Every natural wearing woman knows that natural hair comes with a certain edge. Wearing your hair in its initial state isn’t always easy, because it easily appears as rugged or nappy. These are familiar terms for Black women who have been oppressed for hundreds of years by racism and perception of “good and bad hair.” Black women have come a very long way, yet America still wants us to conform into things that we aren’t. The world saw the woman that won that award in her entirety.
Viola Davis is an inspiration to many African American women both young and old. She is the type of woman that the youth today can look to with respect. Despite where you come from, what family you were born into, or what shade of Black you are, you can be exactly who you imagine yourself to be. Viola Davis showed the world yet again that not all Black women are loud, or sassy, but empowering, passionate, intellectual, and bold. The strength of a Queen, is limitless when she knows her wealth.